I should

I should start on my 'to-do' list.

I should go get the memory card out of my camera & upload pictures.

I should should should . . . .

We are dealing. I will survive.

I choose to look at this *situation* like we've been given a whole potato truck full of lemons and I'm busy each day making a whole lotta lemonade.

There is one predictable part of all this; the kids have a pattern they follow when our household is in upheaval, depending on who did the leaving. If it's me taking the kids away & in a new situation, there is a honeymoon period. That was last week. The next time I call, "Testing the Boundaries" (which is this week). Each child tries new forms of, how do I put this nicely, acting out. This mischief usually presents in tantrums unique to each child.

We were in desperate need of a measuring stick for gauging how good they could be. Or how deep they had dug their own holes.

Meet the Twizlberry incentive. Oh, Twizleberry is this amazing frozen yogurt place where you "pump" your own yogurt (flavors like peach, cheesecake, raspberry, etc) and then choose from a bar that has, like, 50 different toppings. Then you put the cup on a scale at the register & pay by the ounce. (I do have to supervise the kids closely; we go one at a time) But no kid had a sundae more costly than $1.75.

I remember this one seminary teacher that did a similar "thing". You could earn a 'Sundae on Friday' if you met certain criteria; were on time, participated, did your work, etc. But, here's the crafty part, you earned things progressively. First, if you 'fulfilled' the day's criteria, you earned toppings. Then you earn the ice cream. Next is the spoon. Last is the cup. So if you didn't carry through for the rest of the week, you'd be left eating ice cream in your hands. There were some smart alecks that put everything in their hand and ate, but it's not as enjoyable. This teacher did it every two weeks. She also did it with waffles/pancakes.

I made these last night, I'll make the toppings next. And I used my handy dandy laminater that I brought in my carry-on. Yes, I love laminating. A lot. I just draw whatever I want, then zip it through the magic machine. I even cut a slit in the cup so they can slip their fro-yo & spoon in their Twizleberry cup. Fingers crossed, they like this incentive plan.

School starts

One of many missions accomplished; get kids in school. We were able to get the kids back into the school they attended last year when we were here in Idaho. There's a bit of deja vu going on right now.

Except for the location. Their school, Liberty Montessori Academy, went through a name & location change. They got the old courthouse in Rigby. Oh, I love this building. Yes, there is more room for classrooms, great environment to educate our kids, yada yada yada. But this building! The Art Deco style just woos me; and it's on the National Register of Historic places. The next beautiful day, I'm there with my camera. Meanwhile, a storm is a'movin on up; bring on the frostiness. And btw, I am quite pleased with my iPhone camera. I'll take what I can get.

We live

Yes, we live.




We are a little more than 2 days in off the plane and are at least feeling normal for part of the day. I'm getting rolling with finding school solutions for the kids, getting a phone, etc. I would rather just crawl under a rock & leave a sign saying, "Wake me when it's over" but, alas, since I am the only responsible adult, I have to do it. I'll fill in the trip & such soon. For now, let me share with you a video that had my sides aching. I needed a good laugh.

Current Events

A lot can change in a matter of days. This time last week, I was running errands & had about a million things to do on my mind. Even last Saturday, we had a family over, playing games & then helping them move some furniture from one side of the island to the other. Twenty four hours later, the husband part of that family was spending the night at our place because he couldn't get home. His wife & three sons were safe in their home, but there were roadblocks & chaos on the roads between.

Everything disintegrated fast. I had my morning "To-do" list made up by 9am on Sunday (quite an amazing feat) and within the hour, word came that we were to stay in our residences. The freeway through the financial district (read: the north freeway. one of two freeways running east to west) was taken over by large demonstrations. Ooo-kay. I guess I really didn't *need* . . . um, what was it I needed? Oh yeah, to run errands.

Anyway, we're leaving on a jet plane and don't know when we'll be back again. Oh babe, I hate to go. But my bags are packed & ready or not, we're going. Oh, and my 'babe' a.k.a. the hubs, my other half, the dude of the house, is not coming & has to stay and work. The things we do to earn a paycheck.

For lack of a better idea

I'm sorry. I'm really running dry on brain cells and ideas. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month and a half, you'll know all about our recent 'instability' in the region. We're all ok and safe. It's just put a cramp in my style, to say the least.

The first weekend in February, we were able to escape for a long weekend and visit our friends in Riyadh, KSA. It was a balance of trying to decide what *needed* to be captured on film and what I *wanted*. Because I love love love to photograph. No formal training, just a weak hobby that I truly enjoy. But on the flip side, I sometimes find myself experiencing all that we do through a camera lens. I feel removed from the scene; capturing it instead of being in it. And that's where I have to figure out where I need to draw the line. I found a good balance this trip. I'm sad about some of the things I didn't photograph, but I don't regret anything I experienced. And really, what's more important?

I snapped this on our way into a mall. Oh, and as 'western ladies' we just wore the black robes, no ninja cover-up for the head. Though we do wear the matching scarf around our neck because, hey, you have to accessorize! I'll get some clothing pics up as soon as I can. But for now, enjoy. And remember, commit to public morality.

Get ready explorers!

Presenting the project that has been my pain in the rear for the past 3 days! The first 'little thing' I have sewn from my new book "Little things to sew" by Oliver & S. It would have been a lot easier if I had used different fabric. This fabric is rough & tough, exactly what my boy needs. I could get into the details of what I should have done, what I will/won't do next time, but that will bore everyone but me.

Grant modeling his vest. Yes, he had spaghetti for dinner.

Aside from the struggles I had with the fabric, I love love loved making this vest! The directions were clear & easy to understand (once I wrapped my stupid brain around them) and I will totally make it again!

Yes, that's a narwhal on his shirt. They're the coolest mammal ev-ah.

He is showing off the inside of the jacket. I am especially pleased with the lining. The original pattern does not have pockets on the inside. But when I was putting the pieces of the vest on Grant (for sizing) he looked on the inside flap and said, "Where's the pockets on the inside?" It gave me an idea, and so the secret pockets on the inside were added. There was supposed to be a big pocket on the back of the vest. I didn't not add it. What is the point of a pocket back there? You know what would happen? He'd be constantly running to find me, "Mommy, can you put my army guy in that back pocket?" and in another five minutes, "Mommy, can you take my army guy out of the back pocket?" and so on and . . . you get the idea.

I'm also proud of these bellows pockets. There was a simple version & a 'more difficult' one. I chose the difficult one because I liked the idea of bigger pockets. Boy howdy, it took a while to wrap my brain around the concept, but now that they're done, they're so easy!

Here's a better up-close picture. This is a pocket on the inside. See how he can stick his whole hand in?

I left off any sort of buttons or snaps for now. He's flipping the vest inside out so that all the pockets get a turn on the inside. The biggest thing I'll change when I make it next time? If I use this duck cloth, I'll have a thinner fabric for the lining. (I broke two sewing machine needles on this project. yeowtch.)

He bugs me

Ok, here it is, it's March! How did this happen? In my resolve to blog more & not strive for perfection, only accomplishment, I give you *drumroll* a bug we found on our sidewalk.

I kind of like how he's "looking" at us.
I imagine he's saying, "Yeah, I dare you to mess with me!"

Here's a good picture for scale.

There's something cool about a big bug. As long as it's not found in my house, on my pillow, in the tub, in the toilet, in the sink, on the couch, in my shoe, in my closet, on my brush or in my food. I don't ask much, I'm a simple girl.